Still Dominating: Cameron Heyward Enters 2025 Ranked 6th-Best Veteran in the NFL At 35 years old, most NFL players are riding off into the sunset. But Cameron Heyward? He’s still wrecking offensive lines — and only getting better. Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive cornerstone has been ranked the 6th-best veteran player in the league, and the numbers back it up. In 2024, Heyward recorded a career-high pass-rush grade, proving that even in the twilight of his career, he’s not just maintaining — he’s evolving.

Still Dominating: Cameron Heyward Enters 2025 Ranked 6th-Best Veteran in the NFL At 35 years old, most NFL players are riding off into the sunset. But Cameron Heyward? He’s still wrecking offensive lines — and only getting better. Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive cornerstone has been ranked the 6th-best veteran player in the league, and the numbers back it up. In 2024, Heyward recorded a career-high pass-rush grade, proving that even in the twilight of his career, he’s not just maintaining — he’s evolving.

Still Dominating: Cameron Heyward Enters 2025 Ranked 6th-Best Veteran in the NFL

At 35 years old, most NFL players are either hanging up their cleats or struggling to keep up with the demands of the game. But Cameron Heyward isn’t most players. As he enters the 2025 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ veteran defensive lineman is not only defying the odds — he’s dominating them. Ranked as the 6th-best veteran player in the NFL, Heyward continues to show that age is just a number when it comes to his relentless pursuit of excellence on the field.

Heyward’s 2024 season was a testament to his enduring talent and work ethic. Despite entering his mid-30s — an age by which most linemen have lost a step — Heyward recorded a career-high pass-rush grade, a metric that reflects not only his ability to pressure quarterbacks but also his technical refinement, hand usage, and football IQ. According to Pro Football Focus, Heyward’s pass-rush win rate ranked among the top five interior defensive linemen in the league, outshining players nearly a decade younger.

This resurgence came after an injury-plagued 2023 season that many thought would signal the beginning of his decline. Instead, Heyward used that setback as fuel. He returned in 2024 leaner, stronger, and more focused. In interviews, teammates and coaches raved about his offseason preparation and his unwavering leadership in the locker room. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin described Heyward as “the heartbeat of our defense,” a sentiment echoed across the organization.

Statistically, Heyward’s 2024 campaign was nothing short of elite. He posted 11 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, and 15 tackles for loss — numbers that would be impressive for any defensive lineman, let alone one entering his 14th season in the league. He also added 45 total tackles and batted down four passes at the line of scrimmage, demonstrating his all-around impact.

But it’s not just the stats that tell the story. Heyward’s presence commands double teams, opening up lanes for younger players like T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith to wreak havoc. His football intelligence allows him to diagnose plays before the snap, and his leadership off the field sets the tone for a young and hungry Steelers defense that continues to improve each year.

Over the years, Heyward has transformed from a promising first-round pick into a future Hall of Famer. Drafted 31st overall by Pittsburgh in 2011, he spent his early years learning behind veterans before exploding onto the scene in the mid-2010s. Since then, he has earned six Pro Bowl selections, three First-Team All-Pro honors, and has become the face of the Steelers’ defensive line.

While many veterans coast toward the end of their careers, Heyward has taken a different path — one defined by constant self-improvement. In a league increasingly driven by youth, speed, and innovation, Heyward remains relevant because he adapts. He studies film relentlessly, embraces new training techniques, and mentors younger players without reservation.

His influence also extends beyond the field. Heyward is a vocal leader in the Pittsburgh community, known for his charitable work through The Heyward House, which supports underprivileged youth and families across the region. He’s frequently recognized for his character, having been a nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award multiple times.

Heading into the 2025 season, expectations are once again high for the Steelers, and much of that confidence rests on Heyward’s continued excellence. With T.J. Watt in his prime and a revamped secondary behind him, the Steelers boast one of the most dangerous defenses in the NFL — and Heyward is the glue that holds it all together.

When asked about his high ranking among NFL veterans, Heyward responded with characteristic humility: “I appreciate the recognition, but all that matters to me is helping this team win. That’s the only ranking I care about — where we finish as a team.”

In an era where durability and consistency are rare, Cameron Heyward stands as a beacon of both. Ranked sixth among NFL veterans in 2025, he proves that greatness doesn’t have an expiration date. As long as he’s suiting up in black and gold, opposing quarterbacks better keep their heads on a swivel — because Cameron Heyward isn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.